Perceived Management Challenges of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Among Business Education Students in Colleges of Education in North-East, Nigeria

Adamu Isa Alhaji, Mohammed H. A.

Abstract


The study determines the Perceived management Challenges of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) among Business Education students in Federal Colleges of Education. The design of the study was a descriptive survey. The area of the study was North- East, Nigeria; the population of the study comprises 639 final year Business Education students of Federal Colleges of Education who have to undergo Entrepreneurship Education as a course. The sample size for this study consists of 234 final year business education students that are drawn from the population of 639 students. Based on Krejcie and Morgan, an estimated population above 600 and close to 700 should have a sample size of 234. Therefore, using stratified proportionate random sampling technique, firstly, three Colleges of Education offering business education in the study area are selected and form three strata; that is Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe, Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum and Federal College of Education Yola. Secondly, 36.6% of the population from each stratum was selected using the randomization technique. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher and was validated by two experts from the Department of Vocational and Technology Education, Faculty of Technology Education, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. The reliability coefficient of 0.85 was obtained which indicates that the instrument was highly reliable. The data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, version 23. The findings of the study revealed that students are faced with the challenges of enabling environment in setting up small and medium scale Enterprises; also, the study revealed that there are unstable government policies in managing SMEs among Business Education students. Based on the findings it was recommended that Government should provide enabling environment to support the management of small and medium scale enterprises and to ensure stability in policies formulation by the government and its proper implementation to support the management of small and medium scale enterprises after graduation. 


Full Text:

PDF

References


Ayozie, D. O., Jacob, S. Umukoro, F. & Ayozie, U. (2013) Small and medium scale enterprises (SMES) in Nigeria the marketing interface. Global Journal of Management and Business Research Marketing 13(9)-E

Alaye -Ogan, E. (2012). A practical guide to running successful small businesses in Nigeria: challenges, peculiarities, and effective resolution support. Lambert Academic Publishing, Deutschland.

Asaba, E. A. (2012). Businessmen bemoan infrastructure deficit, security. Available at http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/businessmen-bemoan-infrastructure-deficitinsecurity/

Erdem, F., & Erdem, S. (2011). Functional strategies and practices of small and medium-sized family businesses. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 4 (2), 174-185.

Fabayo, J. A. (2009). Small and medium enterprises development strategy: A critical option for sustainable long–term economic development in Nigeria. Paper presented at the first

Annual International Conference on: Effective management of small and medium scale enterprises for sustainable economic development held at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Ode held from 25-27 August

Gill, A., & Biger, N. (2012). Barriers to small business growth in Canada. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 19, 4, 656-668.

Honohan, P. Beck, T. & Demirguc-kunt, A. (2009). Access to financial services: measurement, impact and policies. The world bank research observer 24(1), 119-145

Hatten, T. S. (2012). Small business management: entrepreneurship and beyond. South-Western Cengage Learning, USA.

Krejcie, R.V. and Morgan, D.W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. educational and psychological Measurement

Ishak, S., Omar, A. R. C., and Ahma D, A. (2012). Business venture of the poor:

performance and problems, International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3, 16,165-177.

Kennedy, J., & Tennent, B. (2006). Financial management practices in small businesses: Regional and Metropolitan, Small Enterprise Research, 14, 1, 55-63.

Moses, O. (2010). Understanding business: the basics, Jos: Matachers.

Moses, O. & Adebisi, J. F. (2013). Small Business Financing in Nigeria: An Investigation of the Angel Option. Canadian Social Science, 9, 2, 93-98.

Okpara, J. O., Wynn, P. (2007). Determinants of small business growth constraints in a Sub-Saharan African economy Advanced Management Journal, 72, 2, 24-37.

Oraka, C. (2013). Why Nigerian family businesses fail. Available at http://www.punchng.com/opinion/re-why-nigerian-family-businesses-fail/ (Accessed July 21, 2014)


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.